The Planet is Home
Home is where we feel safe, where we belong, where we build the relationships that give life meaning. We understand instinctively that home is precious; that its loss represents trauma extending far beyond the physical structure. The planet is home in exactly this way. Not metaphorically, but materially. The air we breathe, the water we […]
We’re Asking the Wrong Questions About the Housing Crisis
October 6 marks Urban Crisis Response Day, a moment to examine not just how we respond to crises, but what questions guide our responses in the first place. Cities worldwide face what leaders call a “housing crisis.” They have largely defined this crisis as a crisis of supply, rather than what it truly is: […]
THE SHIFT SUBMITS PARALLEL REPORT FOR UN CESCR REVIEW OF GERMANY
TASH Responds to EU’s First-Ever Affordable Housing Plan
Last month, the Taskforce on Affordable and Sustainable Housing (TASH) submitted critical feedback to the European Union as part of a call for evidence regarding the EU’s development of its first-ever affordable housing plan. The initiative aims to address the housing crisis affecting millions across Europe, but TASH’s response highlighted significant gaps that demand attention. […]
Human Rights Scorecard for Cities
In April of this year, The Shift brought together experts and municipal leaders for the Beyond Tents: Rethinking Encampments webinar, to explore how a human rights approach can transform local responses to homelessness. As part of the tools provided to attendees, we created the Human Rights Scorecard for cities to assess how well their current […]
CESCR Concluding Observations on the UK – Key Recommendations
Cities Leading Change: Transforming Housing Rights in 2025
As we reflect on the first quarter of 2025, The Shift continues to advance housing rights across Europe and beyond through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and knowledge sharing. Our team has been engaged in several initiatives that are helping to reshape housing policy and strengthen the role of cities in addressing housing challenges. Rome: “All […]
The Sum of Their Parts: Housing, Finance, and the Erosion of Our Values
By Kirsten McRae There’s a brutal calculus at work in our world: as global crises multiply, we’re systematically stripping away people’s last line of defense. The acceleration of housing commodification at a time when the cost of living is skyrocketing, geopolitical tensions are mounting, and the planet is warming isn’t just creating rampant homelessness – […]
California’s Dangerous Pivot on Homelessness: A Warning for the Nation
Leilani Farha & Kirsten McRae The U.S. Supreme Court recently delivered a devastating blow to homeless people, greenlighting the criminalization of poverty and denying the most vulnerable group in America potentially life-saving Constitutional protections. In a chilling decision, the Court ruled that jailing and fining people for sleeping outdoors on public property when they have […]
California’s Dangerous Pivot on Homelessness: A Warning for the Nation
The U.S. Supreme Court recently delivered a devastating blow to homeless people, greenlighting the criminalization of poverty and denying the most vulnerable group in America potentially life-saving Constitutional protections. In a chilling decision, the Court ruled that jailing and fining people for sleeping outdoors on public property when they have nowhere else to go is […]